Patrick Swayze: 1952-2009

According to a statement released by his publicist, Patrick Swayze died Monday night following a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 57.

Since disclosing his disease in early 2008, Swayze had stayed busy, working on a memoir with his wife and A&E series The Beast. According to ABC, he refused to take painkillers during the filming of the show for fear of dulling his performance. And despite the dire circumstances, throughout his work, he remained optimistic. "I'd say five years is pretty wishful thinking," he told Barbara Walters in early 2009. "Two years seems likely if you're going
to believe statistics. I want to last until they find a cure, which
means I'd better get a fire under it."

Watch Part 1 of A Barbara Walters Special: Patrick Swayze: The Truth from Jan. 2009: